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SUNDAY,
MARCH 1,
2015
B1
At 82 years old and one of T&T s
most avid and prolific historians,
Fr Michael Anthony de Verteuil
CSSp, former principal (1978-1992)
of his alma mater of St Mary s Col-
lege in Port-of-Spain, still teaches
at the college, conducts televised
masses at Trinity TV, and of course,
he researches, writes and produces
historical publications.
In fact, Fr de Verteuil excitedly
talks about his latest work (his 38th
book, 32 of which are on Trinidad's
history), titled The Great Eight, about
the magnificent houses around the
Queen's Park Savannah, to be
released in May, around his 83rd
birthday.
As I caught up with my former
A-level geography teacher at Spiritan
House on Oxford Street, Port-of-
Spain (which adjoins the college), Fr
de Verteuil showed no signs of letting
up.Ordained as a Roman Catholic
priest in 1962, he has taught at CIC
since returning to T&T in 1963. His
term at St Mary's was interrupted
briefly from 1966-68 when he served
as vice-principal at Fatima College.
He received the T&T national award,
Humming Bird Gold medal in 1993,
and an Honorary LLD degree from
the University of the West Indies in
2004...both for his work as an edu-
cator, author/historian and his com-
mitment to the church and service
to his fellow human beings.
His publications include: The Liv-
ing Rosary 1968; O-Level French for
West Indian Students/1971; Field
Studies for O-Level Geography Stu-
dents/1972; Life Lines--Poem for
Junior Secondary Students/1972;
Changing Reality--A Catechetical
Book for Form 5/1973; Facing Real-
ity--A Catechetical Book for Form
4/1973; Sir Louis de Verteuil, his
Life and Times/1973; And Then
There Were None, a history of the
Le Cadre Family/ 1974; Trinidad's
French Verse 1850-1900/1978; The
Years Before, Trinidad 1829-
1833/1981; The Story of Gene Smile
and the Gas Station Racket/1981;
The Years of Revolt, Trinidad 1881--
1888/1984; Sylvester Devenish and
the Irish in 190 century
Trinidad/1986; A History of Diego
Martin--Begorrat and Brunton 1784-
1884/1987; Eight East Indian Immi-
grants/1989; Seven Slaves and Slav-
ery, Trinidad 1777-1838/1992;
Scientific Sorties/1993; The Germans
in Trinidad/1994; Martyrs and Mur-
derers/1995; History of Surgery in
Trinidad/1996; Holy Ghost Fathers
of Trinidad/1996; The de Verteuils
of Trinidad/1997; To Find Free-
dom/1998; Great Estates of
Trinidad/2000; Shepherds of
God/2001; Western Isles of
Trinidad/2002; Temples of
Trinidad/2004; The Corsicans in
Trinidad/2005; The McShines of
Trinidad/2006; Sylvester Devenish,
Trinidad's Poet/2007; Leon de
Gannes, Trinidad's Raconteur/2008;
The Black Earth of South Napari-
ma/2009; Trinidad's French Lega-
cy/2010; Governor Grant/2011;
Charles Le Cadre/2012; Murder Most
Foul/2013.
He offered some Lenten perspec-
tives for reflection during our inter-
view.Q: At this post-Carnival
Lenten time what mes-
sage would you like to
give to T&T? What does Easter
mean to you?
A: Enjoy Lent---experience
the happiness of getting
closer to God. Easter means
"resurrection," putting aside my sins
and failures of the past and with the
help of Jesus, beginning a new life
of generosity, compassion and joy.
Who were the people who have
influenced you the most?
My parents and my older twin
brother, Eric, who all provided in
their own special ways a constant
incentive as well as a sense of togeth-
erness.
What does it mean to be
Catholic?
A follower of Christ, a member
of a church community which is
open to all and follows the successor
of St Peter.
What are your essential duties
as a priest?
My opinion of my essential duties
was reflected in the commemorative
card I had printed for my priestly
ordination: At the back: Every priest
taken from among men is ordained
to serve men in the things that
appertain to God.'
At the front: A picture of a priest
celebrating mass---and below: Purify
my heart and my lips O Lord that
I may worthily announce the gospel.'
Tell us about your inspiration to
join the priesthood...at what age
did you have your calling?
I stayed an extra year at St Mary's
to study A-Level Science in view of
entering Bangor University, Wales,
to do a degree in Forestry and during
the course of that year, I became
convinced---after much prayer and
deliberation---that God wanted me
to be a priest in the Holy Ghost
Fathers. I left the next year for the
Novitiate in Quebec, Canada. I was
then 20 years old and working with
an accounting firm.
What advice would you give to
a young man who is wondering
about a vocation such as yours?
Make sure that in your life you
are serving others and becoming less
self-centred. Pray about it and con-
sult a priest about it. Remember that
no one is really worthy to be called
to the priesthood, so don't let your
weakness hold you back.
Where were you born and where
did you grow up?
From age ten months to 20 years
I spent all my life in Trinidad. I was
born in London where my father, a
doctor, was doing a postgraduate
degree. My mother was then aged
46 and in poor health and
No letting up
Fr Michael Anthony de Verteuil---educator, historian
WITH NASSER KHAN
I have now completed 32 books on Trinidad's
history. The most challenging was Seven
Slaves and Slavery, Trinidad---1777-1838, be-
cause nothing substantial had been written
about slavery in Trinidad and there was a
great deal of prejudice and attributing to
Trinidad...
"
"
Continues on page B8
Fr Michael Anthony de Verteuil CSSp.
Peasant
farming
takes over
FCB honours
top young
athletes
---Page
B5
---Page
B6